New Vredestein Tires wearing on the inside - what pressure/what fix? Alignment issue?

[ahh-cool]

I put new Vredstein tires on the front. I have about 1500 miles and the inside on both tires are wearing.
What air pressure do you use on these tires. I had 18 PSI. The sidewall says 51 PSI Max. I put in 30 PSI and it seems to straiten them out a little bit.

 

[Bangorbob]

I just guessing but that is possibly an alignment issue vs air pressure.

 

[Snoking1127]

I just guessing but that is possibly an alignment issue vs air pressure.

Toe'd out!

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

PSI won't cause or cure tire wear ..... You need an alignment ASAP, before you ruin those tires ..... preferably a Lazer alignment .....Mike :agree:

 

[djh3]

Looks to be a toe issue. Have you hit something? Possibly the parking bumpers at a store or something. Maybe a curb in a turn? Very excessive camber could do it also, but it would have to be both sides so that looks to be toe. Unfortunately, those tires are done.

 

[BajaRon]

Definitely an alignment issue. Increasing pressure may help a little as it will reduce rolling resistance which may reduce your toe out a bit. But it's definitely not a cure. How were your previous tires wearing?

 

[ahh-cool]

It's not an alignment issue. I had it laser aligned. It is happening on both sides.
Is there a way to fix this? I have not hit anything. They had to replace tires under warranty because they were cupping. At that time I only had a few hundred miles on the original tires

 

[Snoking1127]

It's not an alignment issue. I had it laser aligned. It is happening on both sides.
Is there a way to fix this? I have not hit anything. They had to replace tires under warranty because they were cupping. At that time I only had a few hundred miles on the original tires

Who ever did the alignment screwed up the job. That is a toe in issue, as it is toed out. Take it back to the person/shop that did the work and show them the result of their work. The 2018 service manual calls for 0 degrees toe in plus/minus 0.2 degrees. Maybe the tech that worked on it was flipping burgers at McDonalds the week before!

 

[TheMariner]

Oooooh... I'd be a mite upset with the alignment mob if those tyres are only 1500 mile old.

 

[ahh-cool]

Definitely an alignment issue. Increasing pressure may help a little as it will reduce rolling resistance which may reduce your toe out a bit. But it's definitely not a cure. How were your previous tires wearing?

When I was in your shop you said it was not an alignment issue

 

[Mikey]

opcorn: I don't know what shape your tires looked like when you had it in his shop, but he has pretty much hit the nail on the head now by looking at your pictures, and several people think the same thing! Get it in the shop soon, there's something wrong in that front end!

 

[Bangorbob]

Ask for opinions, get them, then tell all they're wrong. What do really think is the problem if it is not alignment?

 

[CloverHillCrawler]

My first set of Quatracs on the front did the same thing, took it into Brooks Powersports after I wore the the first set out and they were able to get me all set with an alignment.

I have a little over 10k on this set since they have done the alignment and I still have nice even wear even after getting rear ended and having the swing arm assembly replaced.

 

[BajaRon]

When I was in your shop you said it was not an alignment issue

You say the replaced tires were cupping. Cupping is not an alignment issue. Cupping is the result of tires being out of balance or out of round (or both). If you got this advice from our shop, that was accurate. You say you had Vredestiens mounted and laser aligned. Laser alignment is not magic. It requires a technician that 1- Knows what they are doing and 2- Are willing to take the necessary time and care to get it right. Your alignment is off quite a bit.

Your current tire wear issue is 100%, without any shadow of a doubt, an alignment issue. Whoever is telling you that it is not is not being honest with you. I am very sorry for your troubles. But without addressing the obvious toe-out, you're never going to resolve this.

I wish I could say that yours is the first time we've seen this exact scenario. (New tires mounted followed by a bad alignment) We even had a customer bring their Spyder in and found that those who did the alignment failed to tighten the locking nut on the tie rod adjustment. It was spinning freely. Every time she hit a bump, the alignment got a little bit worse. I'm not saying this is the case with your ride. Just that a correct alignment is the cure. You may still be able to save those tires. I would suggest just a tiny bit of toe-in would be best. But I would get this done right away. Every mile you put on these tires increases your problem. It won't be long before those tires are toast.

One last thing. Technically, this could also be a camber issue. However, there is no way to adjust camber on the Spyder and since your previous tires showed no such issue, unless you lowered the ride height substantially, this rules out any camber considerations.

 

[Woodaddict]

With this alignment issue, when you go into curves you would have to constantly move the handlebars to steering and maintain the curve correctly. With a good alignment it is much more smoother. This is what you would have been experiencing, but might be hard to notice until corrected

 

[TheMariner]

..... found that those who did the alignment failed to tighten the locking nut on the tie rod adjustment. It was spinning freely. Every time she hit a bump, the alignment got a little bit worse.

That happened to a car of mine 12 years ago. One tyre was scrubbing the outside really badly & when the tech. checked the locknut was loose by 4 full turns!

 

[2dogs]

Not to worry ahh-cool. Most if not all spyders come from the factory that way. Mine did and Squared Away showed me where mine was 2 1/4 inches out, one of the many things which BRP shortcuts. For what our machines are they come to us terribly encumbered and underperforming. Tires, power, alignment, swaybar, shocks, and so on. Once you get it all dialed in you'll have a sweet machine. hyea:

 

[bikerbillone]

Hey 2dogs, well said sir!

 

[ahh-cool]

You say the replaced tires were cupping. Cupping is not an alignment issue. Cupping is the result of tires being out of balance or out of round (or both). If you got this advice from our shop, that was accurate. You say you had Vredestiens mounted and laser aligned. Laser alignment is not magic. It requires a technician that 1- Knows what they are doing and 2- Are willing to take the necessary time and care to get it right. Your alignment is off quite a bit.

Your current tire wear issue is 100%, without any shadow of a doubt, an alignment issue. Whoever is telling you that it is not is not being honest with you. I am very sorry for your troubles. But without addressing the obvious toe-out, you're never going to resolve this.

I wish I could say that yours is the first time we've seen this exact scenario. (New tires mounted followed by a bad alignment) We even had a customer bring their Spyder in and found that those who did the alignment failed to tighten the locking nut on the tie rod adjustment. It was spinning freely. Every time she hit a bump, the alignment got a little bit worse. I'm not saying this is the case with your ride. Just that a correct alignment is the cure. You may still be able to save those tires. I would suggest just a tiny bit of toe-in would be best. But I would get this done right away. Every mile you put on these tires increases your problem. It won't be long before those tires are toast.

One last thing. Technically, this could also be a camber issue. However, there is no way to adjust camber on the Spyder and since your previous tires showed no such issue, unless you lowered the ride height substantially, this rules out any camber considerations.

I will get it re-aligned.

I will get the front end re-aligned. I hope I can fix this.

 

[BajaRon]

I will get the front end re-aligned. I hope I can fix this.

It is a shame as your alignment was most assuredly much better before you had the work done. Someone doesn't know what they are doing. They should fix this at no charge. And really, they owe you a set of new tires as well since it is their work that has destroyed them. Unless you hit something and have done damage to the alignment components.